Emergency Nursing in US and UK

Fonenurse · Feb 26, 2006

Hi there - I guess like most TV programmes, there is a lot of dramatic licence, more about the story, rather than the actual care.

Having only been in casualty as a patient, not a nurse, I guess that I think it is a reasonably good portrayal of things - from a layman's viewpoint. However, there's nothing like the real thing - so if you want experience of the reality, I suggest you contact your local hospital to see if you can arrange a work experience placement...

english_nurse · Feb 26, 2006

i was a student briefly in a&e

i liked it suprisingly it wasnt much different to what i see on tv in casualty, apart from the added drama of course!

i suppose it depends if you are in a major city or town really.

i saw some interesting things

i saw some interesting extra marital relationships

i saw some scarey and also sad things.

some times is was deadly quiet, others so busy i didnt know my name!

had my first experiance of resuscitation there

am now glad i work on a ward though it wasnt for me

claire xx

mabel u.k · Feb 26, 2006

I would disagree with the previous posts, like all TV programs there is a certain element of truth, however it does miss many of the true aspects of A and E nursing that are present in the NHS. Such as nursing patients on trolleys in the corridors because of a lack of hospital beds, there is far more drama than you will find in A and E they seem to have many major traumas in each episode whereas the unit I am familiar with (it is a major teaching hospital) will see far more of the minors than majors. You never see the Emergency nurse practitioner role, and I think that the nursing input to the patients care is very undervalued within the program.

The protocols that it follows for resuscitation are occasionally wrong (not saying always but as an ex resuscitation officer it is this sort of this I find very irrititing).

So although based losely of some fact not really true to life of an average a and e.

english_nurse · Feb 26, 2006

I would disagree with the previous posts, like all TV programs there is a certain element of truth, however it does miss many of the true aspects of A and E nursing that are present in the NHS. Such as nursing patients on trolleys in the corridors because of a lack of hospital beds, there is far more drama than you will find in A and E they seem to have many major traumas in each episode whereas the unit I am familiar with (it is a major teaching hospital) will see far more of the minors than majors. You never see the Emergency nurse practitioner role, and I think that the nursing input to the patients care is very undervalued within the program.
The protocols that it follows for resuscitation are occasionally wrong (not saying always but as an ex resuscitation officer it is this sort of this I find very irrititing).
So although based losely of some fact not really true to life of an average a and e.

i agree re the resus bit, how is it in casualty they are being resuscitated one minute, having a cuppa the next?

i work at a district general hospital, there were plenty of times that i saw, and still see sometimes patients on trolleys in the corridor by a&e and being stuck in ambulances outside due to lack of space in the deaprtment and beds within the hospital,

as for majors and minors, i would agree with that but minor injuries do not make good tv

ZippyGBR, BSN, RN · Mar 12, 2007

Hello everyone,
Just wanted to ask anyone what they thought of BBC 1 Casualty as a programme to watch to get experience of Nursing life in the Emergency Department. Would like to hear yours views
Regards, Marion

good entertainment , nothing like actual clinical practice

ayla2004, ASN, RN · Mar 12, 2007

had a placement in a&e

agree with most of the posters

doesn't mention the manic rush on mondays due to everyone thinking the w/e are bad to come in and they wait was this just us i wonder.

also had my first go a cpr, seen some v.poorly kids and the effects of alcohol and a OD as well as cardiogenic shock.

but at times i was bored due to no patients others it was so busy.

i loved working in resus and minors but not majors,

cariad · Mar 13, 2007

nothing like the a&e where i was, as for resus protocols, it seems that the first thing all programmes do is, get the de-fib and use it regardless of what made them arrest or the rythym that they are in.

lots of minors and even more in the us. after all over here if the patients are ill but cant afford the doctor because they have no insurance, they go to the er because they have to treat everyone whether they have insurance or not.

its all about having a good storyline.

RGN1 · Mar 13, 2007

I guess it's about as realistic to the UK as "ER" is to the US.

allnurses Guide · Mar 13, 2007

I guess it's about as realistic to the UK as "ER" is to the US.

Oh no, are you telling me that ER isn't real :lol2: :lol2:

RGN1 · Mar 13, 2007

Oh no, are you telling me that ER isn't real :lol2:

:lol2:Yeah, sorry about that - I mean have you ever seen a doc as good looking as Kovac? See can't be real then can it?! :lol2: